Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A network hub for an onboard network system, the onboard network system including a first network for transmission of first-type frames following a first communication protocol, and including a second network for transmission of second-type frames following a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol, the network hub comprising: a receiver that receives a first-type frame; a processor that determines whether or not the first-type frame received by the receiver includes first information that is a base for a second-type frame to be transmitted to the second network, to obtain a determination result, and selects a port to send a frame based on the first-type frame, based on the determination result; and a transmitter that sends the frame based on the first-type frame to a wired transmission path connected to the port selected by the processor, wherein the transmitter sends the frame as the second-type frame to a first wired transmission path connected to the port selected by the processor in a first case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver includes the first information, wherein the transmitter sends the frame as a second first-type frame to a second wired transmission path connected to the port selected by the processor in a second case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver does not include the first information, and wherein the second-type frame includes the first information in the first-type frame.
This invention relates to network communication systems, specifically addressing the challenge of interconnecting different communication protocols within an onboard system. The problem is to efficiently route data between networks that use distinct communication protocols. The solution is a network hub designed for an onboard system. This system has at least two networks: a first network for transmitting first-type frames using a first communication protocol, and a second network for transmitting second-type frames using a second, different communication protocol. The network hub includes a receiver to capture incoming first-type frames. A processor analyzes these received frames to determine if they contain specific "first information" that is relevant for creating a second-type frame intended for the second network. Based on this determination, the processor selects an appropriate output port for the frame. A transmitter then sends the frame. If the processor determines the first-type frame contains the "first information," the transmitter sends the frame as a second-type frame onto a wired path connected to the selected port. If the "first information" is absent, the transmitter sends the frame as a modified first-type frame (a second first-type frame) onto a different wired path connected to the selected port. Crucially, when a second-type frame is generated, it incorporates the "first information" from the original first-type frame.
2. The network hub according to claim 1 , wherein the first communication protocol is an Ethernet (registered trademark) protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is a Controller Area Network protocol, wherein the first-type frame is an Ethernet (registered trademark) frame including an Ethernet (registered trademark) header and data that is a payload, wherein the second-type frame is a data frame including a data field, wherein the first information indicates content of the data field, and wherein the network hub includes a first port connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable.
A network hub facilitates communication between devices using different protocols, specifically Ethernet and Controller Area Network (CAN). The hub converts Ethernet frames into CAN data frames and vice versa, enabling seamless data exchange between Ethernet and CAN networks. An Ethernet frame consists of an Ethernet header and a payload, while a CAN data frame includes a data field. The hub extracts information from the Ethernet payload and maps it to the CAN data field, ensuring proper data translation. The hub includes a port specifically designed for connecting to an Ethernet cable, allowing direct integration with Ethernet networks. This design addresses the challenge of interoperability between Ethernet and CAN protocols, which are commonly used in industrial and automotive applications where real-time data exchange is critical. The hub ensures that data integrity is maintained during protocol conversion, supporting efficient and reliable communication across heterogeneous networks.
3. The network hub according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second port connected to the second network over which the second-type frame is to be transmitted, wherein the processor selects the second port connected to the second network as the port to send the frame based on the first-type frame, in the first case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver includes the first information, and selects the first port connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable as the port to send the frame based on the first-type frame, in the second case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver does not include the first information, wherein the transmitter sends the second first-type frame, of which at least second data that is a second payload is same as the data that is the payload of the first-type frame received by the receiver, to the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable, in the second case where the port selected by the processor is the first port to which the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable is connected, and sends the second-type frame including the first information in the first-type frame, in the first case where the port selected by the processor is the second port connected to the second network.
4. The network hub according to claim 3 , wherein the second-type frame includes an ID field, a data length code (DLC), and the data field, wherein the first information indicates the ID field, the DLC, and a value of the data field, and wherein the transmitter sends the second-type frame to the second network with a value of the ID field, indicated by the first information, in the ID field of the second-type frame, a value of the DLC, indicated by the first information, in the DLC of the second-type frame, and the value of the data field, indicated by the first information, in the data field of the second-type frame.
5. The network hub according to claim 4 , wherein the first information further indicates values of the ID field, the DLC, and the data field for each of a plurality of second-type frames to be transmitted to the second network, and wherein the transmitter sends the second-type frame to the second network by sending the plurality of second-type frames, each of which includes a different part of the first information.
6. The network hub according to claim 3 , wherein the second-type frame includes an ID field and the data field, wherein the first information is a set of individual data indicating values of the data field for each of a plurality of second-type frames to be transmitted to the second network, included in the payload of the first-type frame, and wherein the transmitter sends the second-type frame to the second network with, with regard to the set of the individual data, an ID value identified based on placement of individual data in the payload in the ID field of the second-type frame, and a value of the individual data in the data field of the second-type frame.
7. The network hub according to claim 3 , wherein the second-type frame includes an ID field and the data field, and wherein the transmitter sends the second-type frame including the first information in the first-type frame to the second network with an ID value, identified based on a value of a destination MAC address in the Ethernet (registered trademark) header within the first-type frame, in the ID field of the second-type frame, and a value of the data field that the first information indicates in the data field of the second-type frame.
A network hub is designed to facilitate communication between different network types, particularly between Ethernet networks and other network types. The hub receives a first-type frame from a first network, where the first-type frame includes an Ethernet header containing a destination MAC address and a data field carrying first information. The hub processes this frame by extracting the destination MAC address and the first information. The hub then generates a second-type frame, which includes an ID field and a data field. The hub assigns an ID value to the ID field based on the destination MAC address from the first-type frame. The data field of the second-type frame is populated with the first information extracted from the first-type frame. The hub then transmits the second-type frame to a second network, ensuring compatibility and proper routing by mapping the Ethernet destination MAC address to the ID field in the second-type frame. This mechanism enables seamless communication between networks with different frame formats, improving interoperability and data transfer efficiency.
8. The network hub according to claim 2 , further comprising: a plurality of ports connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable, the plurality of ports including a second port connected to a device connected to the second network over which the second-type frame is to be transmitted by the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable, wherein, in the first case where the first-type frame received by the receiver is determined to include the first information, the processor selects the second port connected to the device connected to the second network by the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable, as the port to send the frame based on the first-type frame, and wherein the transmitter sends the second first-type frame, of which at least second data that is a second payload is same as the data that is the payload of the first-type frame received by the receiver, to the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable connected to the second port selected by the processor.
9. The network hub according to claim 2 , wherein the processor determines the determination result by a value of a predetermined identification flag within the first-type frame received by the receiver.
10. The network hub according to claim 9 , wherein the predetermined identification flag is within the Ethernet (registered trademark) header of the first-type frame.
11. The network hub according to claim 2 , wherein the processor determines the determination result by a value of a destination MAC address in the Ethernet (registered trademark) header within the first-type frame received by the receiver.
12. A transfer method for a network hub in an onboard network system, the onboard network system including a first network for transmission of first-type frames following a first communication protocol and including a second network for transmission of second-type frames following a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol, the transfer method comprising: receiving a first-type frame; selecting a transfer destination by a processor, by determining whether or not the first-type frame received in the receiving includes first information that is a base for a second-type frame that is to be transmitted to the second network, and selecting a port for sending a frame based on the first-type frame according to a determination result of the determining; and transmitting the frame based on the first-type frame to a wired transfer path connected to the port selected in the selecting of the transfer destination, wherein the frame is transmitted as the second-type frame to a first wired transmission path connected to the port selected in the selecting of the transfer destination in a first case of determining that the first-type frame received in the receiving includes the first information, wherein the frame is transmitted as a second first-type frame to a second wired transmission path connected to the port selected in the selecting of the transfer destination in a second case of determining that the first-type frame received in the receiving does not include the first information, and wherein the second-type frame includes the first information in the first-type frame.
13. An onboard network system including a first network for transmission of first-type frames following a first communication protocol and including a second network for transmission of second-type frames following a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol, the onboard network system comprising: an electronic control unit connected to the first network; and a network hub connected to the first network, wherein the electronic control unit: generates a first-type frame following the first communication protocol, and transmits the generated first-type frame to the first network, wherein the electronic control unit generates the first-type frame by including first information as a base for a second-type frame to be transmitted to the second network, and second information indicating that the first-type frame includes information to be transmitted to the second network, in the first-type frame, wherein the network hub: receives the first-type frame, determines whether or not the received first-type frame includes the first information, and selects a port to send a frame based on the received first-type frame, in accordance with a determination result, and sends the frame based on the received first-type frame to a wired transmission path connected to the selected port, based on the received first-type frame, wherein the network hub sends the frame as the second-type frame to a first wired transmission path connected to the selected port in a first case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver includes the first information, wherein the network hub sends the frame as a second first-type frame to a second wired transmission path connected to the selected port in a second case of determining that the first-type frame received by the receiver does not include the first information, and wherein the second-type frame includes the first information in the first-type frame.
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March 16, 2021
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